What causes someone to mock or provoke someone else?

@assemblingaknob no apologies needed! I completely understand...I get the elevator eyes more times than I can count. Ppl like to start shit with me and I don’t even ask for it. I mind my own business, do my job and go home. I wonder if ppl do this to try and get in bc I’m not a very approachable or social person and maybe it’s one of those things that they fear what they can’t understand..?

@assemblingaknob Very good rant! Jealousy then. You came through well.

@DecafD oh. Workplace can become a battleground because of people like this. The kind you speak of just CANNOT mind their own business. Different people have different energy gainers and energy drainers. That kind definitely feels more energetic by displacing their toxicity on individuals they perceive as more "vulnerable", i.e people without a strong social backup. It's a power move on their part. And yes jealousy can play an important role in it. They can see that you host no toxicity inside you, that you don't feel the need to be bitter and negative towards other people, and they don't like that, because they themselves are unhappy, bitter folks. If you're not unhappy on your own, they'll GIVE you something to be unhappy about.
Another incentive can be promotion. They more they emotionally drain you, the more the chance of your work losing quality, and the higher their chances of throwing you over for promotion. There are many reasons for people being toxic, and one can pick them apart all day to try and understand them and get nowhere 😐 the wisest thing is to plan your way so as to avoid getting involved at all costs and only focusing on your well-being first and foremost. They WANT you to get involved. Don't give them their energy gainer! (easier said then done I know 😬)

@MiserableAtBest that’s what I’m saying! It doesn’t feel good to be mocked so why would anyone believe that this is an awesome tactic to attract people? I’m not buying it when ppl say it means they like me.